BOSTON – Lester Hudson only played three games for the Maine Red Claws but his short time in the NBA Development League was beneficial.

The rookie was assigned to the Celtics D-League affiliate on December 15 and recalled just five days later to fill out the Cs roster. During that short span Hudson averaged 16.3 points, 6.0 rebounds and 4.7 assists per game, including a 25-point debut performance.

“I learned a lot,” he told WEEI.com on Sunday. “I learned a lot about the pick-and-roll, team defense. Those were things my coach, (head coach) Doc [Rivers] and (President of Basketball Operations) Danny [Ainge] told me to work on so I tried to work on that and I think I got a little better at that. I’ve just got to work hard on every possession. I got in a little better shape because I was playing a lot of minutes in those three games, so I’m going to try not to get out of shape.”

Hudson was told of his assignment prior to the Celtics-Grizzlies game in his hometown of Memphis, a night he had been hyped for. He admits that his “energy kind of went low,” but quickly realized the move was in his best interest. At that point he had played just 49 minutes in 13 games and knew he would have a chance for minutes with the Red Claws.

Fortunately for Hudson, his family who had come to watch him play was also there to offer encouragement.

“My family is with me no matter what, even if I didn’t play basketball,” he said. “I never want to be without basketball but they’re with me one-hundred percent no matter what.”

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